–Jan 20, 2009, 19:05, Tokyo–Media retailer Tsutaya kicked off a campaign today in celebration of Metal Gear Solid 4 and Hideo Kojima. The retailer has set up a corner showing off the fifteen films that Kojima lists has having influenced the MGS series .

For those without access to Tsutaya shops, the online arm of the retailer is taking part as well and has opened a special campaign site.

According to the site, Kojima selected the following titles as having had an influence on the award-winning series:

• The Guns of Navarone
• The Great Escape
• Goldfinger
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Planet of the Apes
• The Deer Hunter
• Dawn of the Dead
• Full Metal Jacket
• Predator
• Die Hard
• Heat
• Black Hawk Down
• Children of Men
• The Bourne series
• Casino Royale

At the Tsutaya page, Kojima offers short comments for these movies. He says that the 007 series had the most influence on Metal Gear’s birth. Black Hawk Down was used as a reference for the lighting, color and atmosphere in the opening Middle Eastern section of MGS4. Regarding 2001, he notes that Snake and Otacon’s real names, David and HAL, come from the Kurbick classic. Die Hard offered hints for the conversion to 3D with the original Metal Gear Solid. Regarding The Deer Hunter, he says that while many believe Snake’s bandana comes from Rambo, it’s actually from Robert De Niro’s character in this movie.

The online site is also holding a present campaign. Interested parties can fill out their name and address information at the site to win a special MGS4-themed head-phone set, MGS4 t-shirts, and MGS4 character stickers.

The site also has one inactive section that’s listed as "coming soon."

To view this campaign in the flesh, head out to one of the following Tsutaya shops:

• Tsutaya Sapporo Kotoni (Hokkaido)
• Shibuya Tsutaya (Tokyo)
• Shinjuku Tsutaya (Tokyo)
• Tsutaya Shinbashi (Tokyo)
• Tsutaya Nishi Gotanda (Tokyo)
• Tsutaya JR Nakano Station (Tokyo)
• Tsutaya Sbisubashi (Osaka)
• Tsutaya Bellparle Route 1 (Osaka)
• Tsutaya Abenobashi (Osaka)
• Tsutaya Matsui Yamate Station (Kyoto)
• Tsutaya Commercial Mall Hakata (Fukuoka)
• Tsutaya Fukuoka Tenjin (Fukuoka)

(source: andriasang.com )

GamerTell has an cool writeup on remembering the many years of solid snake. by Lucy Newman.

I can’t wait for my copy of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots but I don’t want to say goodbye to elite agent Solid Snake, whom we’ve grown to love while following his adventures.

We pray that rumors of an end are not true and continue to pose theories about why the series could never end.  Even so, as a preemptive memorial to help cope with the denial that this may be the absolute last game for Snake, here is a look at the MGS franchise…."

Metal Gear Memorial: Remembering the many years of the Snake

(source: GamerTell)

(source: GT)

GameRush reports~

"With the release of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots upon us, speculation surfaces this morning that Konami may be ready to unveil a new Metal Gear title for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) at this year’s E3.

The rumor comes from Russian site StarSniper, which was down at the time of this writing. However, a member on the PlayStation.com forums dropped some information about the supposed upcoming PSP title.

“The game is titled Metal Gear 3: Revolver Ocelot and it takes place between MGS: Portable Ops and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. It will feature some scenes from the original Metal Gear.”

“The game uses a recruitment system similar to MGS:PO and the main character is Revolver Ocelot, looking similar to both MGS3 and MGS1. Big Boss is not a playable character, but appears sometimes during the cut scenes supervising the construction of outer heaven.”

More details will reportedly be revealed at E3."

(source: GameRush)

Metal Gear Retrospective: Part Three

(source: GameTrailers)